With the recent passing of Abbas Kiarostami, fellow filmmakers and fans alike have been sharing their appreciation for one of cinema’s greatest directors. Now, a new video essay by our friend Scout Tafoya from No Film School titled “What Abbas Kiarostami Taught Us About Heaven” posits that Kiarostami proves “all around us is paradise; we just can’t appreciate it.” It also talks about modernity and Kiarostami’s fascination with technology, and how things such as earthquakes and excavations keep his characters apart, while simple things (e.g. cars and phones) force people to communicate.
It goes on to touch upon the dignified, respectful, childlike wonder of a woman’s visage staring at a movie in a darkened theater, the face a stand-in for our own as the enjoyment and power of the movie overtakes an onlooker. Kiarostami cared about these faces, and he hopes we do, too. He trusted his audience with this burden: to be caring in the way his films were.
It’s an insightful look into a man’s career and lasting impact, as well as the hope that can be created by art. Look upon it with respect and dignity; seek enjoyment and understanding from it. That’s what he would have wanted.
See the full essay below, and check out a recent two-hour masterclass with the late director: